<p>Hello friends from CC, I am an international student planning to enroll in college this fall. As my choices have been narrowed down to University of Washington Seattle, UI Urbana Champaign and PSU University Park, I face this problem of choosing one of these schools to attend.</p>
<p>My intended major is Biological studies, Plant Science of University of Washington, Biology of UIUC and Biological Sciences of Penn State University Park; now the reputation of these three schools are fairly good with University of Washington higher and Penn State slightly lower in international rankings , I cannot judge them merely based on rankings. I knew winter is harsh in Illinois and Pennsylvania and the scenery is just gorgeous in Seattle, but I really expect a college experience knitted by school spirits and residing in a college town. I visited University of Washington Seattle campus in summer a few years ago and it was pretty good, the surroundings, the atmosphere of the campus etc. However, Penn State is closer to my sister, who now studies in New York City.</p>
<p>Another point lies between me friends. My girlfriend chose to go to Penn State University Park (Economics) and one of the other friends chose Penn State Harrisburg (Mathematics), so if I go to Penn State, we can then catch on our lives together again.</p>
<p>Can anyone please give me some advice which one should I choose at last?
A million thanks.</p>
<p>One is in the west, one in the midwest and one is towards the east. It really depends on where you want to work after college ? University of Washington has very nice campus and low teacher to student ratio. It also is the smallest of the three. </p>
<p>If you want a college town we can remove Washington from the list since its near a major city. Champaign-Urbana, IL is a bigger town than State College, PA. All of them cost pretty much the same for out of state. I think Illinois has harsher winter than Pennsylvania. What country are you from ? Both UIUC and UW-Seatle are very diverse but Penn State is not. UIUC and UW-Seate are like 90% in-state but Penn State has a lot of out of staters. Join your girlfriend. Goto Penn State.</p>
<p>I am from Taiwan. And what do you mean by “diverse”? I thought that more out-staters add to the school’s diversity. So if Penn State has greater portion of Out of staters, isn’t that more diverse? Since state colleges enroll more in-staters coming from same state or even same high school, will it be difficult for a out-stater or international student to make new friends? Take these three schools into comparison, which school is more hospitable for international students?</p>
<p>About the student-faculty ratio, I understand that it is high in state colleges than in private colleges, but among these three schools, where can I find a smaller class and get closer to classmates and teachers? Since science major student may receive more “Big lecture” than other students, which school can I find the most comfortable classes (for learning and class atmosphere)? I really don’t want to be treated like a number.</p>
<p>BTW, I read over Penn State’s housing webpage and found a stuff called “supplemental housing”. When should I apply for housing in order not to be placed into supplemental housing, is there any recommended deadline so I won’t be dumped into supplemental housing? Can my gf and I live in the same residential area?</p>
<p>International students rarely are able to stay in the US to work past the time permitted by the OPT visa extension. This means that the OP needs to find out whether or not any of these degree program is more likely to lead to a good job back home. </p>
<p>RLin1995 -</p>
<p>How committed are you to Plant Science? At UIUC or Penn State, would it be easy to focus on that subject within the Bio Science major, or would you need to eventually transfer into a different major?</p>
<p>I’ve lived in PA and in the Midwest. On weather alone, I’d vote for UW-Seattle. However, being near friend’s and family is valuable during short school breaks, clearly favoring Penn State. As a mom I’m concerned though about the girlfriend at the same U thing. How much drama is there in your relationship? If you break up the first semester, will you regret choosing that U? Are you the kind of people who can stay friends for life if you aren’t dating anymore? Are you the kind of people who are ready to quit dating, just get married, and move off campus to some cheap little apartment while you finish your degrees? Think those things through too.</p>
<p>“So if Penn State has greater portion of Out of staters, isn’t that more diverse?”</p>
<p>That should be true but ironically Penn State is white dominated. </p>
<p>“Take these three schools into comparison, which school is more hospitable for international students?”</p>
<p>I think for international student a college near a big city will be more ideal. All three are very big colleges so you will not have any problem making friends. Knowing 10 people from high school doesn’t mean anything at such a big university. </p>
<p>“where can I find a smaller class and get closer to classmates and teachers?”</p>
<p>Definitely University of Washington…It is the smallest of the three but UIUC isn’t that big either. Penn State is the biggest.</p>
<p>Supplement housing isn’t that bad. Its just for a few months. You need to find out which dorm your gf lives in and when you accept the housing contract just put the name of the dorm.</p>
<p>Choosing colleges based on relationships is usually not the best idea.</p>
<p>All are great schools! I can only give insight on UW, though. It’s a pretty big school, and there honestly isn’t much school spirit. However, it’s quite easy to find your niche within it, and the surrounding area is incredibly gorgeous.</p>
<p>After having lived in a very small school-town place in the northern midwest for the past two years, and being from Seattle, I personally would choose UW (I’m biased). It’s beautiful, there’s a great surrounding music/arts scene, the food is phenomenal, and there are tons of interesting little communities in and around Seattle. And, it’s on the coast.</p>
<p>However, UW is a pretty enormous school, and its college town is Seattle-- which is a major city. So if you want a small-town, close-knit college experience, UW is probably not for you.</p>